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What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—the way the body uses digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food people eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body.

After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a long-term (chronic) skin problem that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin. Normally, skin cells grow gradually and flake off about every 4 weeks. New skin cells grow to replace the outer layers of the skin as they shed. But in psoriasis, new skin cells move rapidly to the surface of the skin in days rather than weeks. They build up and form thick patches called plaques (say "plax").

What is influenza, or "the flu"?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.

A comprehensive dilated eye exam is a painless procedure in which an eye care professional examines your eyes to look for common vision problems and eye diseases, many of which have no early warning signs. Regular comprehensive eye exams can help you protect your sight and make sure that you are seeing your best.

Part 1 of the Top 6 Vitamins & Minerals for your Eyes

Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts against the walls of arteries as it flows through our body.

Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80."

Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is a rare, hereditary disorder that leads to retinal dysfunction and visual impairment at an early age-often from birth. Of all the retinal degenerations, LCA has the earliest age of onset and can be the most severe.Leber's: LCA was first described by German ophthalmologist,Theodore Leber in the 19th centuryCongenital: refers to a condition present from birth (not acquired)Amaurosis: refers to a loss of vision not associated with a lesion

It could lead to an interaction where the effect of one of the drugs gets blocked (becomes ineffective).Or, it can cause too much of one drug to remain in your system causing all sorts of problems.

How to reduce the risks?

The FDA has taken an important step by proposing barcodes on all medication packages that carry the information necessary for healthcare providers to determine if there are potential interactions between prescribed medications.

What can you do to protect your skin?

The sun emits two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB. UVB is the chief culprit behind sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging, and other light-induced effects of aging.